I'd like to begin my contribution to this debate as Minister for children by paying tribute to the work of the former Cabinet Secretary, Carl Sargeant. Carl was passionately committed to improving life for children and young people across Wales, determined to make a positive difference to their well-being and their prospects for the future. He realised the devastating impact of adverse childhood experiences and the importance of prevention and intervention. He supported the ACEs hub, and he introduced the Children First areas to bring people and organisations together to improve people's lives. He was passionate about the need to tackle the disadvantages faced by looked-after children and care leavers, introducing the St David's Day fund and pressing public bodies to recognise their responsibilities as corporate parents. He worked hard to promote positive parenting and prepare the way for legislation on physical punishment of children, and he worked tirelessly to ensure that the rights of children and young people were always recognised and respected across Government. I will do all I can to honour and continue his excellent work and unwavering commitment to children and young people, in his memory. 

As a Government, we want all children in Wales to have the best possible start in life. The early years are a key priority within our programme for government and our national strategy 'Prosperity for All'. We are focused on making a positive difference to the health, the well-being, the educational outcomes and the prospects for the future of all children and young people. However, they cannot be considered in isolation. Their well-being and family outcomes are inextricably linked with those of parents, families and communities. Through working collaboratively and listening to the voices of children themselves, and of young people themselves, we can bring about real and sustainable change. It is important that we have this regular, meaningful debate on our achievements so far in Wales regarding children's rights, but we should not stop there. We need to continue to make progress not just as a Welsh Government, but by working collaboratively across the public and the third sectors, and within our communities, including with children and young people.

I believe it is vital to have an impartial and independent voice for children and young people in Wales—one that can promote and safeguard their interests, and challenge the work of Government and others through the lens of children's rights. We have this now in the office of the Children's Commissioner for Wales, and I look forward to meeting with her soon to discuss how we can work together.

In her annual report, the commissioner has highlighted her achievements in the first year of her three-year strategic plan, in terms of project and core work. This includes 528 individual cases handled by the commissioner's independent investigations and advice service. While the rest of this debate is likely to focus on the commissioner's recommendations on general policies and programmes for children, I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the importance of the service that she and her office provides for individual children and young people who need assistance.

In this year's annual report, the commissioner has presented 19 recommendations. Fourteen relate to providing children with what they need, such as education, healthcare and extra help if they are disabled, and five relate to protection, ensuring that they're safe from harm. As a Government, we share substantial common ground with the commissioner. We have and we will continue to work collaboratively with her and others for the benefit of children and young people. In the last year, for example, we have worked with the commissioner and the Welsh Local Government Association to improve transition for care leavers. The positive work in this area has been acknowledged in the report.

We are delivering on our commitment to transform the system for supporting children and young people with additional learning needs. The Additional Learning Needs and Education Tribunal (Wales) Bill has children's rights at its very foundation. The new system will put children and young people at the heart of a person-centred process where everybody works together for their benefit. Subject to the Assembly passing the Bill over the coming weeks, it should receive Royal Assent early in 2018. Our focus will then shift fully to implementation, and we'll continue to work with the commissioner to ensure that the new system fully reflects a rights-based approach.

The First Minister will publish his response to the commissioner's report, including the recommendations for the Welsh Government, on or before 30 November, so Members will understand if I won't be detailing our response during today's debate. But it is important that we work together to maximise all of the opportunities to improve outcomes for children and young people that are afforded through our programmes, especially those that target the early years.

The evidence around adverse childhood experiences—ACEs—shows the importance of prevention and early identification and intervention, and why we need to work collaboratively to ensure that all children in Wales have the best possible start to life. The current focus on ACEs does not mean, however, that we are no longer concerned about the impact of other areas of disadvantage upon children, particularly those of neglect and poverty, and I will continue to focus on delivering for children and young people.